Flight Crew Doubts Black Woman Is A Doctor

The doctor's Facebook post on the incident went viral, touching a nerve among Black professionals.

Delta Airlines is under fire on social media over its air crew’s doubts that a Black woman on board was a doctor when a passenger needed medical attention, CW39-TVreports.

“I’m sure many of my fellow young, corporate America working women of color can all understand my frustration when I say I’m sick of being disrespected,” Dr. Tamika Cross wrote in a Facebook post that has gone viral.

The news outlet identified Cross as an OB/GYN who practices at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.

Cross explained in the post that she was on a Delta flight to Detroit when a man became unresponsive. When a flight attendant asked if there were any physicians on board, Cross stepped forward.

To Cross’ surprise, the flight attendant had a condescending response: “‘Oh, no sweetie put your hand down, we are looking for actual physicians or nurses or some type of medical personnel, we don’t have time to talk to you.’”

But the insults didn’t end there. The attendant went so far as to demand to see Cross’ medical credentials. During that exchange, Cross said a “seasoned” White man forward and identified himself as a doctor—no one asked to see his medical credential.

With a White man who looked like a doctor present, the flight crew dismissed Cross, who fumed in her seat. However, about 10 minutes later, she said the attendants came to her for additional assistance for the unresponsive passenger, who ultimately recovered with Cross’ help.

The flight attendant later apologized to Cross several times, even offering Delta SkyMiles, which she declined.

“I don’t want skymiles in exchange for blatant discrimination,” the doctor wrote. “Whether this was race, age, gender discrimination, it’s not right. She will not get away with this.”

Cross’ post clearly touching a nerve. It received over 32,000 shares and more than 11,000 comments.